Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00076245 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : January 19, 2004
Results First Posted : June 25, 2014
Last Update Posted : June 25, 2014
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression | Behavioral: Light Therapy Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | Phase 1 |
SAD is a condition in which people experience depression as a result of seasonal variations in sunlight. Although light therapy is a common treatment for SAD, a large proportion of people with SAD are resistant to this treatment. CBT is effective for nonseasonal depressive disorders, but its use for SAD has not been thoroughly explored. This study will determine whether CBT, alone and combined with light therapy, is as effective as light therapy alone in reducing SAD symptoms.
Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to light therapy, CBT, a combination of light therapy and CBT, or a control group (no therapy) for 6 weeks. CBT will be conducted twice a week; light therapy will be conducted twice a day. Assessments will be made before, during, and after the study treatment. Depression scales, questionnaires, and behavioral tasks will be used to assess the depressive symptoms of participants. A 6-month and 1-year follow-up visit will also be conducted. During the follow-up visits, participants will be interviewed and will complete a questionnaire and a survey.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 61 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Seasonal Depression |
Study Start Date : | November 2002 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 2004 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2005 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1 Light therapy |
Behavioral: Light Therapy
Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day. |
Experimental: 2 Cognitive behavioral therapy |
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week. |
Experimental: 3 Light therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy |
Behavioral: Light Therapy
Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day. Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week. |
No Intervention: 4 Control |
- Scores on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version [ Time Frame: Post-treatment ]The Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) measures depressive symptoms on a continuous scale. Higher scores indicate worse outcome. Range of scores is 0 to 73. Generally, a score of 20 or higher is the cutoff for clinical depression.
- Remission Status on Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) [ Time Frame: Post-treatment ]Dichotomous Remission Status (remitted or not) at post-treatment

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Willing and able to participate in the study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Major psychological diagnoses other than SAD
- Current psychological or psychiatric treatment

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00076245
United States, Maryland | |
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) | |
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20814-4799 |
Principal Investigator: | Kelly J. Rohan, PhD | Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) |
Responsible Party: | Kelly Rohan, Principal Investigator, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00076245 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
R03MH065946 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) R03MH065946 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) DSIR AT-AS |
First Posted: | January 19, 2004 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | June 25, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | June 25, 2014 |
Last Verified: | June 2014 |
Phototherapy |
Depression Mood Disorders Seasonal Affective Disorder |
Behavioral Symptoms Depressive Disorder Mental Disorders |